Kilkenny take on Galway in this Sunday’s Leinster final in a repeat of the 2022 decider.
The Cats came out on top in that tie, winning by 5 points, and secured themselves an All-Ireland semi-final clash with Clare. After dispatching the Banner, Brian Cody led the team against Limerick in a valiant losing effort on the day, the final game in the illustrious inter-county career of the James Stephens club man.
Kilkenny are going for their 75th Bob O’Keeffe Cup, with the occasion sometimes not celebrated in The Marble City. So does the coveted straight semi-final spot mean more than silverware? Maybe to some.
Statistically does qualifying straight for a semi-final mean a better chance of making the final? Looking back to just after the last time Kilkenny won an All-Ireland in 2015. Kilkenny have made it straight to a semi-final five times, losing in 2021 to Cork after extra time, losing to Waterford in 2020 & Limerick in 2018, while beating Waterford in 2016 before losing the final to Tipperary and the aforementioned 2023 campaign.
By contrast, the Cats have not made it to the penultimate clash on two occasions, once in 2019 and once again in 2017. Once again the results vary, Kilkenny won the quarter-final versus Cork in 2019 and went onto beat Limerick in the semi-final. While after not getting to a Leinster final in 2017, Kilkenny went into the preliminary series and lost to Waterford after extra-time.
So does going directly to a semi hold an advantage for Kilkenny? Well using the last few years as a barometer, no not particularly. Despite this Derek Lyng believes the added advantage of rest for his panel is the desired path for the Emeralds man;
“Whatever result it brings on Sunday, you have to get on with it and deal with it. “
“I mean, we want to win on Sunday, so obviously that would give you a clear route to the semi-final and that’s the route you like to take, no question about it. “
“Obviously, with injuries, it gives you a chance to refresh and get the panel back together and look at a few weeks of training. “
“We’ll have to wait and see. To be honest, I’m not too concerned about any of that. I’m kind of just concerned about what’s ahead of us and that’s the Leinster Final, making sure that we put in a really good performance. That’s the motivation for now and we’re looking forward to it. “
This interview will be live on Scoreline Sunday from 3pm.
Munster Final
Another straight semi-final awaits the winner of the Munster final this weekend.
Conor Cleary has been passed fit to play for Clare in Sunday’s Munster senior hurling final against Limerick at the Gaelic Grounds. He’s been named at full-back in Brian Lohan’s 15. Cleary injured his shoulder in the win over Cork.
Meanwhile, Cian Lynch will once again start the game on the Limerick bench. John Kiely has named an unchanged team from the win over Cork last time out with Cathal O’Neill starting at centre forward.
Kilkenny v Galway will be live on KCLR this Sunday with coverage beginning at 3pm with thanks to Laharts and Gerry Comerford Drilling.
